Behavioural Interview Questions

What are Behavioural Interview Questions?

Behavioural interview questions are designed to assess a candidate’s past behaviour in professional situations to predict their future performance in similar circumstances. These questions typically start with prompts such as “Tell me about a time when…” or “Give an example of how you…” and are used to explore the candidate’s skills, decision-making abilities, and suitability for the role.

Purpose and Structure

The purpose of behavioural interview questions is to delve into specific competencies that are crucial for success in the job position, such as teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability. By asking candidates to describe real-life examples from their previous experiences, employers can gauge how they have handled challenges and their approach to specific tasks.

Effective Question Design

To design effective behavioural interview questions, employers should first identify the key competencies required for the position. Questions should then be structured to elicit detailed responses about these competencies, focusing on the situation, action, and result. This helps in understanding the context of the behaviour, the actions taken by the candidate, and the outcomes of those actions.

Impact on Recruitment

Behavioural interview questions are highly effective in the recruitment process as they provide tangible evidence of how a candidate’s past behaviour can inform their future performance. This method offers a deeper insight into an applicant’s abilities and is more predictive of future success than traditional interview questions that may only assess theoretical knowledge.

Incorporating behavioural interview questions into the interview process can significantly enhance the quality of hiring decisions, helping to ensure that candidates not only fit the required job profile but also align with the company’s culture and values.